State officials had to resolve an estimated $32 billion shortfall during this year’s budgeting process while funding brand-new service areas and continuing IT renewals. Here are several areas of innovation and technology spend for FY 2023-24:
- For the University of California system, investment in IT and computing rises from an estimated $132.5 million in FY 2022-23 to an estimated $139 million in FY 2023-24. The same is true for the California State University system; instructional IT investment there climbs from $38.8 million to $40.2 million and academic support IT investment increases from $137.8 million to $142.8 million.
- In the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) budget, the Employment Development Department (EDD) receives $5.8 million from multiple funds for IT preparedness for the new labor agency building move. There’s also $3.3 million from other funds for cybersecurity software licensing. Both funding areas stem from budget change proposals, which also asked for $1.2 million from various funds in FY 2024-25 for IT equipment needed in the new LWDA building — including one-time equipment, maintenance and contract services costs. The plan is for LWDA to begin to move into the former state Resources building in December 2025, accompanied by EDD, the California Workforce Development Board, the Department of Industrial Relations and the Employment Training Panel while continuing to support telework. EDD sought the cybersecurity funding to continue licensing vital automated tools its Cybersecurity Division uses to find and respond to vulnerabilities and threats, to escalate and report security incidents and data breaches; and to respond to federal- and state-mandated cybersecurity audits and compliance reports.
- In the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency budget, the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation receives $1.7 million and nine positions in FY 2023-24 for IT system development workload. This, too, stems from a budget change proposal (BCP) that also seeks $1.6 million in FY 2024-25 and ongoing to grapple with increased system development workload, and to align the IT Office’s project methodology with state recommendations. The positions are six IT Specialist Is and three IT Specialist IIs. The department was renamed in FY 2020-21 from the Department of Business Oversight, its size increased from 582 to 804 employees between FY 2013-14 and FY 2022-23, and its oversight of the financial sector has expanded.
- In the California Natural Resources Agency budget, there’s $717,000 and one position for IT transition services and support at the new Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety (OEIS), established July 1, 2021, to make sure electric utility companies are taking effective action to reduce the risk of wildfires related to utilities — and with an expanded mission that also includes underground facilities. A BCP from FY 2021-22 sought funding including $7.4 million from the Public Utilities Commission Utilities Reimbursement Account ($13 million ongoing), $352,000 from the Safe Energy Infrastructure and Excavation Fund ($348,000 ongoing), and 34 positions in 2021-22 to create the office. OEIS’ budget for FY 2023-24 is $40.8 million and 166 positions, compared with $42.1 million and 81 positions in FY 2022-23.
